What happens when a currency loses its value in the market??Inflation is inevitable. Most of us are aware of the occurrences that transpired, when Zimbabwe currency did not have much value. People would carry huge chunks of cash to buy basic commodities and when worse came to worse, most traders rejected the currency and opted to trade with the US Dollar.
Most foreign and local investors, found it very hard to thrive in a struggling economy and shied away from making major investments. But no matter how the economy was at that particular time, that was not the initial case in Zimbabwe. Few years before the economy came down crumbling due to poor governance, Zimbabwe was one of the fastest growing economies in Africa.
Investors perceived it as one of the most promising Country in Africa to invest in however, after the economic meltdown, it was very hard to convince any investor to invest but I believe that has changed over time.
Please take note, am not here to sham Zimbabwe in any way, I do love the people of Zimbabwe, I know there are thriving businesses, ministries and God is doing something great in that Nation.God is a God of complete restoration.However, am using this illustration to paint a clear picture on the dangers of losing the power of our testimony as believers.
While studying the book of Genesis, I came across a series of dramatic events and one of them was in the life of LOT. Lot was the nephew of Abraham, who knew the true God. He had witnessed Yahweh several times but His life of compromise, which is well documented in Genesis 19, takes us to a journey of how he lost his voice to convince his sons-in-law to be, from escaping total destruction in Sodom.
Genesis 19:5-8 They shouted to Lot, “Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!”So Lot stepped outside to talk to them, shutting the door behind him. “Please, my brothers,” he begged, “don’t do such a wicked thing. Look, I have two virgin daughters. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do with them as you wish. But please, leave these men alone, for they are my guests and are under my protection.
Am always baffled of how a Father, can offer his daughters to such wickedness, despite of mounting pressure. Does it mean Lot never valued his own daughters who were already betrothed to be married??
His life of compromise was well known, which caused him to loose his voice from convincing his future sons-in-law, from escaping oncoming destruction Genesis 19:12-14 Meanwhile, the angels questioned Lot. “Do you have any other relatives here in the city?” they asked. “Get them out of this place—your sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone else.For we are about to destroy this city completely. The outcry against this place is so great it has reached the Lord, and he has sent us to destroy it.”So Lot rushed out to tell his daughters’ fiancés, “Quick, get out of the city! The Lord is about to destroy it.” But the young men thought he was only joking.
How many times as believers, do we compromise our faith and we end up losing our testimony? Lot lost his testimony due to his lifestyle of compromise despite of encountering God’s salvation, when Abram his uncle took him out of captivity In Genesis 14:14-16 When Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men who had been born into his household. Then he pursued Kedorlaomer’s army until he caught up with them at Dan.There he divided his men and attacked during the night. Kedorlaomer’s army fled, but Abram chased them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken, and he brought back his nephew Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives.
Lot knew he was compromising his faith but he was not willing to change his mind, no wonder he lost his voice while in Sodom when:-
1.Men in Sodom knew his character and had the guts to ask him for the men who went into his house.
2.His future sons-in-law to be could not bank on his words about Sodom being destroyed since he never exhibited godly standards and integrity. He was willing to exchange his virgin daughters to perverted men yet they had been betrothed for marriage.
How many times have we lost our testimony due to compromise like Lot did?? You were caught by your wife cheating but instead of embracing true repentance, you continue cheating on her.You were arrested due to breaking the law and later on released from custody but instead of having true repentance, you end up committing a bigger crime than before or maybe, God delivered you from a toxic relationship which you were so used to fornicating however due to lack of true repentance ,you end up getting involved in another toxic relationship. Instead of learning from your past mistakes you allow your past mistakes define your current choices in life, which clouds your destiny path.
God delivered you from that mess but due to lack of true repentance, you end up accommodating your former mindset which was corrupted. True repentance, is not all about being remorseful by what you did, it’s all about changing your mind and redirecting your will/emotions, towards a positive change. Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Acts 3:19
God delivered you from that mess but due to lack of true repentance, you end up accommodating your former mindset which was corrupted. True repentance, is not all about being remorseful by what you did, it’s all about changing your mind and redirecting your will/emotions, towards a positive change. Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Acts 3:19
Whenever we allow compromise to define our character, we rob ourselves the power of our testimony. The day you gave your life to Christ, you automatically became a candidate that ought to be a city set on hill ,in a world that is yearning for true light. Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father
Am not implying that you will not make mistakes, yes we do mistakes once in a while but living a lifestyle of compromise with a full assurance what you are doing is wrong, automatically makes your testimony powerless to win a soul to Christ, since what you are portraying is not what they desire to commit to.
When Lot lost the power of his testimony, he failed to convince his future sons-in-law about the oncoming destruction, due to his compromised lifestyle. The same applied to the lost value the currency of Zimbabwe had, as they tried to get the economy back to it’s feet.Most investors were not sure if investing in Zimbabwe could guarantee any profitability, no wonder they kept off for some time.
So,how can you regain the power of your testimony??
- Settle for true repentance instead of being remorseful.
- Learn from your past mistakes and respond correctly.
- Hang out with like minded people-those who have the same positive values like you.
- Don’t allow wicked people to influence you, stay away from their circle or they will entice you to their wickedness.
- Hate what God hates and love what He loves.
- Make decisions that are in proper alignment with God’s will.
- Have standards or let say me healthy boundaries.
- Control your environment and deliberately avoid circumstances that will provoke your behavior.
- Guard your ear gates and eyes gates.
- Run away from what God says you run away from.
- Don’t take God’s mercy and His Grace for granted.
- Always give God’s Word to renew your mind.
